Marisa DemarcoMarine walks across the country barefoot<SPAN STYLE= "" >Marine walks across the country barefoot</SPAN> by Marisa Demarco (2011-01-07)New Mexico VeteransÃ• Integration Center<div style="float:right; width:200px; height:150px; margin-left:8px; margin-bottom: 8px;"><img alt="Ron Zaleski" width="200" height="150" src="http://alibi.com/image/pix_id/27466/Ron-Zaleski.jpg?image_height=150&amp;image_width=200" /></div><P><SPAN STYLE= "" >Today is day 220 of Ron Zalski&rsquo;s journey across the country. Without shoes, he&rsquo;s traveled about 2,000 miles. He has another 1,000 to go.</span></p><P><SPAN STYLE= "" >Zaleski is 58 and a grandfather. He left Massachusetts in June. His long journey is intended to bring attention to the high suicide rate of veterans, particularly those who come home from Iraq and Afghanistan. He&rsquo;s been wearing a sandwich board as he walks alongside America&rsquo;s roadways. It says &ldquo;18 vets a day commit suicide.&rdquo;</span></p><P><SPAN STYLE= "" >Today, he&rsquo;ll be speaking at the New Mexico Veterans&rsquo; Integration Center in Albuquerque (13032 Central SE, near Tramway). And then he&rsquo;ll keep on walking. </span></p><P><SPAN STYLE= "" >He&rsquo;s collecting signatures on a petition demanding mandatory counseling for members of the military. He&rsquo;d like to present them to President Obama on Veteran&rsquo;s Day in 2011. You can sign the petition electronically at </span> <A HREF="http://thelongwalkhome.org/" target='_blank'><SPAN STYLE= "" >thelongwalkhome.org</span></a><SPAN STYLE= "" >.</span> </p>...<br/>Full story: <A HREF="http://alibi.com/blog/s/news/35378/Marine-walks-across-the-country-barefoot.html"><SPAN STYLE= "" >Marine walks across the country barefoot</SPAN></A>#type-0-106.5024465,35.06862513032 Central Ave. SE
Albuquerque NM 87123